Kim Jong-un tells troops of duty to fight 'sacred war'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits a front-line military detachment and
reminds troops of their duty to fight a "sacred war" against any provocation
by South Korea.

4:00PM BST 18 Aug 2012

North Korean state television broadcast on Saturday of leader Kim Jong-un visiting an artillery unit near the country's sea border ahead of an annual joint military drill between South Korea and the US.

His visit to Mu island precede annual war games by allies South Korea and the United States scheduled to begin on Monday and continue until Aug 31.

State news agency KCNA said Kim, who came to power in December 2011 after the death of his father, visited the same artillery unit that launched a deadly attack on South Korea's Yeonpyeong island near the western sea border two years ago.

State television reported the North Korean leader "ordered the servicepersons... not to miss their golden chance to deal at once deadly counter-blows at the enemy if even a single shell is dropped on the waters or in the area where the sovereignty of the DPRK is exercised".

Kim Jong-un also said the Korean People's Army should then "lead the battle to a sacred war for national reunification, not confining it to a local war on the southwest region".